ADO Den Haag Women fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against De Graafschap (W) in an engaging international club friendly on Sunday, August 2, 2026. The match, played at ADO Den Haag's training complex, served as an important preseason test for both Dutch women's sides as they continue their preparations for the upcoming campaign.

Match Overview

De Graafschap Women produced a spirited away performance to overturn an early deficit and secure a morale-boosting victory. ADO Den Haag Women started brightly and struck first, but the visitors responded with two goals before half-time to take control of the contest. The second half saw ADO push hard for an equaliser, yet De Graafschap held firm to claim the bragging rights in this friendly showdown.

Key Moments

• Early breakthrough: ADO Den Haag Women opened the scoring inside the opening 15 minutes when a well-worked attacking move was finished calmly past the De Graafschap goalkeeper. The home side used the early momentum to dominate possession in the first quarter of the match.
• De Graafschap equalise: The visitors levelled midway through the first half, capitalising on a defensive miscommunication in the ADO box. A quick counter-attack ended with a low drive into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
• Visitors take the lead: Just before the interval, De Graafschap Women completed the turnaround. A delivery from a corner was met with a powerful header, leaving the home goalkeeper with no chance and making it 2-1 to the away side.
• ADO pressure in the second half: The home team dominated the second half and created several clear chances, but De Graafschap's resolute defensive block, combined with some determined goalkeeping, kept them at bay.

Tactical Story

ADO Den Haag Women controlled large spells of the match, showing good passing combinations in midfield and looking to build attacks down the wings. However, their inability to convert possession into goals proved costly. De Graafschap (W) set up in a compact, disciplined shape, looking to absorb pressure and strike on the break. That game plan worked to near perfection, with both of their goals coming from quick transitions and set-piece situations.

The match also offered both coaching staffs the chance to rotate their squads, with a number of substitutions in the second half disrupting the flow of the game. ADO pushed an extra attacker forward in the closing stages, but De Graafschap stayed organised and saw out the result with relative comfort.

Standout Players

For De Graafschap Women, the goalscorers and the central defensive partnership stood out, while their goalkeeper made a string of important saves during the second-half siege. ADO Den Haag Women's midfielders were bright on the ball, and the home side’s forward line worked hard to create openings, but they lacked the finishing touch on the day.

What the Result Means

As a preseason friendly, the result itself carries no points or silverware, but the performance will give De Graafschap Women confidence as they gear up for the new season. Head coach and staff will be encouraged by the team's defensive resilience and efficiency in front of goal. For ADO Den Haag Women, the defeat serves as a useful learning curve, highlighting areas for improvement in converting chances and guarding against counter-attacks before competitive fixtures get underway.